RPI eyes elusive win over Union

Engineers have lost past 8 vs. Dutchmen over a 3-year drought

By Matt Graves

Published 11:15 pm, Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Brock Higgs celebrates his goal against Harvard University during the first period of a ECAC college hockey game in Troy N.Y., Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP102 less

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Brock Higgs celebrates his goal against Harvard University during the first period of a ECAC college hockey game in Troy N.Y., Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Brock Higgs (23) moves the puck past Harvard University goalie Steve Michalek to score during the first period of a ECAC college hockey game in Troy N.Y., Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013. (Hans Pennink / Special to the Times Union) ORG XMIT: HP103 less

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Brock Higgs (23) moves the puck past Harvard University goalie Steve Michalek to score during the first period of a ECAC college hockey game in Troy N.Y., Tuesday, Oct. 29, ... more

Photo: Hans Pennink

RPI eyes elusive win over Union

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Troy

RPI's senior class has some unfinished business with crosstown hockey rival Union College this weekend , especially the all-senior line centered by Brock Higgs.

"We try to take the same approach as any game, but obviously these are the kind of games you love to play hockey for," said the 185-pound assistant captain, who takes face-offs on a line with captain Matt Tinordi and assistant captain Johnny Rogic on the wings. "We all know who we're playing; it's nothing new anymore."

What would be new would be a win by the 10th-ranked Engineers (6-2-2, 2-1-1 ECAC Hockey), who have dropped eight straight decisions to the Dutchmen. The last time RPI defeated Union (Nov. 13, 2010), Higgs was a sophomore who led RPI with 23 points that year.

He scored nine goals as a freshman, but has often been nagged by injuries throughout his career. The speedy Ontario native is off to perhaps the best start of his career with seven goals and 13 points in 10 games. His line has accounted for 12 goals and 25 points.

"That line has been our best line by far, not even close," said RPI coach Seth Appert, who put the trio together after RPI's 7-2 thrashing at Boston College on Oct. 13. "I'm not just talking statistics. You have to score to win, but in terms of what we value as a program. We value team-first play, we value guys who finish checks that win puck battles, that back-check."

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Union vs. RPI

Friday: RPI at Union, 7:30

Saturday: Union at RPI, 7

Higgs has been an exemplary influence for RPI both on and off the ice. In fact, he didn't even make Tuesday's practice because "I had nine hours of class yesterday."

That's what it takes when you're working on a masters degree as well as an undergraduate degree and trying to juggle a major sport like hockey. Higgs has been on the Dean's List every semester at RPI, currently carries a 3.72 grade-point average and is one of 20 national candidates for the Senior CLASS Award that recognizes the total student-athlete concept.

In his "spare" time, Higgs has worked with youth hockey, Habitat for Humanity, the Newman Center and various community charitable causes. He also spent the summer in Troy working to make himself as strong as possible for this hockey season, and it seems to be paying dividends.

"He had a great freshman year, helping us get to the NCAA Tournament," Appert said. "He had a lot of injuries the last two years ... which probably prevented him from being as effective as he would like to be. But he still did a lot of good things for us. I think a big thing is that he's gotten back to what makes him tick as a player. His best weapons offensively are around the net."

He hopes to get an opportunity to display those weapons this weekend in the home-and-home set with Union.

"It's going to be fun and exciting, and that's what you like to see in a game," Higgs said. "Just the atmosphere and competitive level we love to play with when we step on that ice. That's what brings out the best in everybody, and we're just excited to give them our best this week."

Appert listed forward Milos Bubela as "probable" for the Union series after missing games last weekend. Center Jacob Laliberte was struck in the head with a puck Wednesday at practice , but said he will be ready to go.